1) Why are you running?
For most of the past 20 years, I have volunteered in our town in many capacities, and I feel that I have, in my own small manner, contributed to the community. My three-decade-long career in sales has taught me the importance of listening carefully to others and helping them in finding solutions that actually benefit them. I know that I can contribute to the wellbeing of our residents and the growth of our community by bringing the voices that matter to the decisions made by Council.
2) Are there any steps municipalities can take to help ease cost of living concerns?
Keep property taxes at bay. Utilizing the numerous new provincial and federal subsidies that are available to support services that would otherwise be funded by tax dollars. Work with local service groups to recruit volunteers and motivate existing ones to plan and promote free and low-cost public community activities and services.
3) What are your ideas for economic development in your municipality?
Residential and retail are Hanover’s two main economic sectors. Successful small towns have four things in common that make them economically profitable.
Tourism and Recreation
Creating several yearly cultural events for people of all ages which will inspire guests to travel further and stay longer. Another item I’m pushing for is the creation of a Center of Excellence Park. Currently, I’m a part of the committee that will establish a professional Disc Golf facility in Hanover in 2023.
Adding a predominant amount of professional and corporate services with a lower cost of doing business. Through collaborations, recruitment initiatives, and luring businesses from outside, I’ll endeavour to bring higher-paying jobs to our Town while putting an emphasis on maintaining and growing existing businesses.
Imbuing a culture of entrepreneurship and access to skills development
I’ll continue to fund the Launch Pad and their programs while encouraging their continued growth along with Hanover’s new HIPP initiative (https://hipphanover.ca/)
Higher education facilities
I’ll consider forming a collaboration for the importation of a satellite technical or postsecondary campus. The benefits offered would result in more employable highly skilled residents and resident retention. Additionally, it would aid in luring in companies that provide more and better-paying work.
4) Do you think the municipality has a role to play in the recruitment and retention of physicians and other healthcare workers?
There are obvious direct methods, but I think municipalities’ indirect methods should garner more attention. To make our communities both attractive to those professionals and to give them compelling reasons to stay, we must always be maintaining, building, bettering and beautifying our communities, in a forward-thinking direction.
5) Do you feel Hanover needs to acquire more land in order to grow?
No, not necessarily. We have the flexibility to add a mix of commercial and residential space by building upward on a smaller footprint. We can also take advantage of the existing land by offering incentives to property owners to build modest rental Coach homes on their lots. We can create a modular home community that would require far less land than large single-family homes to accommodate the same number of residents. Working on projects involving shared land with our neighbours.